Singapore port’s 2012 box traffic exceeds 30 million TEUs

The Port of Singapore handled more than 30 million 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) in 2012, a historic high despite the year’s global economic uncertainties and maritime industry difficulties, according to advance estimates from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

Container throughput for the year reached 31.6 million TEUs, a 5.7 percent increase over the 29.9 million TEUs recorded in 2011. Total cargo tonnage handled rose 1.2 percent over 2011 to reach 537.6 million tonnes, also a new record for the port.

The port also kept its global lead in annual vessel arrival tonnage and bunker sales, the MPA said in a statement.

Annual vessel arrival tonnage reached a record high of 2.25 billion gross tons (GT) in 2012, an increase of 6.1 percent from 2011. Tankers and container ships were the top contributors, accounting for 30.8 percent and 30.4 percent of the total, respectively.

Total volume of bunkers sold in 2012 fell 1.2 percent to 42.7 million tonnes, compared to 43.2 million tonnes in 2011. Despite the decline, Singapore remained the world’s top bunkering port.

The Singapore Registry of Ships also expanded last year. Total tonnage of ships under the MPA register grew by 13.2 percent, or 7.7 million GT. Total tonnage of ships under the Singapore flag was 65 million GT, putting Singapore among the top 10 ship registries in the world.